Why We Never Get Over High School
by Deborah Fallows
Across the nation, people have different questions they ask when meeting someone new. There are hidden meanings in all of them — including a popular one about schooling. (Read it here.)

An American Dream: A YMCA With a Circus
by Deborah Fallows
For those of you who have always dreamed of running off to join the circus, here is a close second: move to Redlands, California, and join the YMCA. (Read it here.)

How the #1 ‘Breakthrough’ Helps Modern Communities Survive
by James Fallows
Throughout this trip –in Michigan, in South Dakota, in Wyoming, in Vermont, and now in Maine — we’ve been struck by the power and importance of “local patriotism” as expressed in efforts to strengthen downtowns, school systems, civic culture, local arts, and the other elements that make life more livable. (Read it here.)

Vermont Report: Shaping the Soul of a School
by Deborah Fallows
The school’s neighborhood is home to a mix of the down-and-out, the frontier-pushers, and is also the first stop for many of Burlington’s constant influx of refugees and immigrants. (Read it here.)

‘When’s Your Birthday? January First!’ Report from Sioux Falls
by Deborah Fallows
Sioux Falls began welcoming Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s, and it continues welcoming refugees today, including most recently Sudanese, Somalis, and Nepalese. I say “welcoming” deliberately, as the outreach and cooperation among churches, schools, civic groups, the city, and community volunteers is deep and obvious. The phrase I heard most often in my talks with those who work with refugees is something like “embrace the challenge.” (Read it here.)